Originally posted by Dreadsox I wish I could find the quote I read recently.....I think it was Churchill who said it...but I read it while I was in my drug haze....it was something along the lines of it was good to criticize your governement, just not while you were on foreign soil. Something alnog those lines.

I disagree vehemently with this quote, if it is as you have worded it.

Why? Because it invalidates people who have sought political asylum, who have fought for change in the countries they have left.

I still really don't understand why you'd have to do that. Plenty of the greatest minds would go abroad and comment on the happenings at home, even when they weren't refugees, as you put it. I don't see any harm in it; there's something to be said for honesty. If you go abroad and criticize the economic policies of your country, so what? If you criticize military spending or eroding health care or foreign policy, I don't see that as any worse just because you're abroad. If nobody did this, half the world's professors would fall into silence.

I once had a professor, he was American, and back in the 60s or 70s, he got a major grant (he was a biochemist). It permitted him to basically go on sabbatical for a year, and he chose to go to Cambridge. He said he got there and met with a guy who won the Nobel in Chemistry, and that person asked him why he chose to come to Britain instead of working in the USA. And my professor's response was, "Because the Americans are doing lots of things, but the British are doing brilliant things." He said he got criticized later for saying it, but that didn't make it any less true, in his opinion. I thought of him today, he was a cool guy.

Good points, anitram. I recall being in England and someone asking me if I supported the Reagan Administration. I didn't, and I didn't lie to the guy. I didn't think what Hillary did was in the best of taste. If I happened to be in another country of course I'd have to be honest about not voting for Bush.

Yes, let's all be good little sheep, and blindly follow this administration even to the extent of putting restrictions on what one can say when, to whom and in what country. Sorry, but I'm not playing.

Yes, let's all be good little sheep, and blindly follow this administration even to the extent of putting restrictions on what one can say when, to whom and in what country. Sorry, but I'm not playing.

You did see me WINK? Like I was making a JOKE....my GOD...when did we lose our sense of humor in here? Of course I see you cut that out in your QUOTE.

EDIT....

of course I must be a mindless sheep since I think it is inappropriate to put into troops muinds that there is waining support at home for the war....and to attack the administration in the combat zone.

Originally posted by anitram I still really don't understand why you'd have to do that. Plenty of the greatest minds would go abroad and comment on the happenings at home, even when they weren't refugees, as you put it. I don't see any harm in it; there's something to be said for honesty. If you go abroad and criticize the economic policies of your country, so what? If you criticize military spending or eroding health care or foreign policy, I don't see that as any worse just because you're abroad. If nobody did this, half the world's professors would fall into silence.

I am not sure that he is necessarily speaking about professors or the average Joe on the street. That is the problem I have with quotes, and this may be the first time you have ever seen me cite a quote in FYM in this manner. I usually am the person going back searching for the context of the quote.

In this case, Churchill, being a man of some stature, may have been asked a question after being Prime Minister. He may not have wanted to rock the boat and this was his response.

My favorite part of the quote is about what he does when he is home though.

I saw that. I got it too! See all's not lost. On that note leave Hillary alone. You know she can't get elected, just riding along on her husbands coatails, everybody hates her and she can't raise money for the democratic party, so why go on about her.
* I'm getting kicked off this f ing isp server. 3rd time this afternoon so this probably won't post, time to go read*

Good thing no one on here is running for President or in influential politics. Same kind of thing as what Hilary has done, the only thing that changes is which party's supporter is doing the talking.
*add plus it will make no difference to anyone, what is discussed within here...but its really neither here nor there is it. Dont want to miss a golden opportunity for a shit flinging!